March 26, 2014

Wednesday Hero - Lt. Milton Ricketts

For extraordinary and distinguished gallantry above and beyond the
call of duty as Officer-in-Charge of the Engineering Repair Party of
the U.S.S. Yorktown in action against enemy Japanese forces in the
Battle of the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. During the severe bombarding of
the Yorktown by enemy Japanese forces, an aerial bomb passed through
and exploded directly beneath the compartment in which Lt. Ricketts'
battle station was located, killing, wounding or stunning all of his
men and mortally wounding him. Despite his ebbing strength, Lt.
Ricketts promptly opened the valve of a near-by fireplug, partially
led out the fire hose and directed a heavy stream of water into the
fire before dropping dead beside the hose. His courageous action,
which undoubtedly prevented the rapid spread of fire to serious
proportions, and his unflinching devotion to duty were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave
his life for his country.

Sgt. Mike Stokely died Aug. 16, 2005, in Iraq. He was one of those
extraordinary young men who have a tremendous impact on so many people
even though his time among us was cut short.
To honor his memory, Stokely's family has organized the Mike Stokely
Foundation for the purpose of helping children and others who might not
otherwise be able to afford it gain access to good books and the skills
needed to read them for pleasure and learning.
"Mike loved to read, from the time he was a small child till the day he
died in Iraq. In fact, during the last call his Dad received on Aug. 8,
2005, he talked in glowing terms about how much he appreciated reading
material sent to him," his family explains.
If you would like to help honor the memory of one of America's fallen,
more information about the Mike Stokely Foundation at P. O. Box 833 Sharpsburg GA 30277.
The telephone is 678-416-1387